Kamelot

Kamelot is a US power metal band from Tampa, Florida, active since 1991. The group forms around guitarist Thomas Youngblood and has become associated with power metal, progressive metal and symphonic metal.

Early history

The band begins in 1987 under the name Camelot, a name suggested by Youngblood’s mother. The early line-up includes Richard Warner on drums, Rob Beck on vocals and Dirk Van Tilborg on bass and keyboards. The group records “Breaking The Silence” for a local compilation in 1988. By 1991, Sean Tibbetts joins on bass, Mark Vanderbilt replaces Rob Beck on vocals, and the band changes its name to Kamelot to avoid confusion with other uses of the name. A first demo follows that year, and a second demo appears in 1993 after Glenn Barry replaces Tibbetts. David Pavlicko then joins on keyboards.

Albums and line-up changes

Kamelot signs to Noise Records and releases its debut album, Eternity, in 1995, followed by Dominion in 1997. After touring in Europe, drummer Richard Warner leaves and Casey Grillo takes over. In 1998, Norwegian singer Roy Khan replaces Mark Vanderbilt, beginning a long-term collaboration with Youngblood. The band releases Siége Perilous that year and starts touring internationally.

The group follows with The Fourth Legacy in 1999 and the live recording The Expedition after a European tour. Karma appears in 2001, and David Pavlicko leaves during this period. Oliver Palotai later joins as a multi-instrumentalist, contributing keyboards and guitars.

Faust-inspired period and wider touring

Epica arrives in 2003 and The Black Halo in 2005. Both albums are loosely based on Goethe’s version of the Faust story. During this era, Kamelot releases its first music videos, including “The Haunting (Somewhere in Time)” and “March of Mephisto”, and expands its touring across Europe, North and South America, and Asia. The live DVD One Cold Winter's Night is recorded in Oslo in 2006.

Later releases

Ghost Opera follows in 2007, later issued in an expanded edition as Ghost Opera: the Second Coming. In 2009, Glenn Barry leaves and Sean Tibbetts returns for touring. Poetry for the Poisoned is released in 2010. Around this time Roy Khan becomes seriously ill and does not complete touring commitments, so guest vocalists such as Fabio Lione and Tommy Karevik appear with the band. Khan leaves officially in 2011.

Tommy Karevik becomes the new lead vocalist in 2012 and makes his first studio album appearance with the group on Silverthorn. Kamelot continues touring across Europe, North America, Asia and Australia, then releases Haven in 2015 and The Shadow Theory in 2018. Casey Grillo departs, Johan Nunez takes over for touring, and Alex Landenburg later becomes the official drummer in 2019.

Recent activity

The band releases the live recording I Am the Empire – Live from the 013, recorded in 2018 and issued in 2020. The Awakening follows in 2023, preceded by singles including “Opus of the Night (Ghost Requiem)”, “Eventide” and “NightSky”. Kamelot continues international touring and festival appearances.

By 2026, the band has released thirteen studio albums, three live albums, two live DVDs and around twenty music videos. In 2025, it releases the box set Ascension (1995–1998), which collects remastered early material and previously unreleased recordings. The group is credited to Kamelot Music LLC.